The manufacturing of brain tanned leather is very different from other methods such as chrome tanning and vegetable tanning. In order to clean brain tanned buckskin, use cornmeal and a clean brush. After washing and drying, the item will become very stiff.
However, washing brain tanned leather will affect the softness of the hide, which is a result of the tanning process. This can be reduced, if not completely removed, by repeated soaking and washing with soap and water.
Rare leather hides how to#
Image from Native Art in Canada How to Care for Brain Tanned Leatherīrain tanning is followed by smoking, which often leaves a strong smell of wood smoke. Disadvantages of Brain Tanned Leatherīecause this method of tanning is highly labor intensive and requires a lot of effort, it is relatively rare and expensive. It is also environmentally friendly due to using few chemicals and less water than vegetable tanning or chrome tanning. It is an important heritage of certain tribes in North America which should be preserved. While brain tanned leather is a niche product produced in small quantities, it is a traditional way of manufacturing leather that is ages old. Rabbit skins are also suited for ornamental purposes or cut into strips and knit or woven into a jacket or cape. Wolf and fox fur are durable enough for rough use and are suitable for ornamental purposes. Buffalo hide does not stretch like the hide of elk or moose and works well for bags. Moose leather, being thick and dense, is suited for moccasins and other products requiring a thicker and durable leather. It need not be very expensive and can be used for both low-end and high-end items. Leather from elk is best used for clothing and bags since it is soft and stretchy. Products Brain Tanned Leather is Commonly Used Forĭepending on the animal used for the leather, the properties will change. While it will generally be soft, breathable and have a distinct appearance, commercially-tanned leather will generally be more consistent than that from tanning done by hunters in the woods. Brain tanned leather which is not smoked will generally have a white, or light, color. In particular, the animals from which the hide is derived are usually hunted and not farmed, so the limited supply of hides makes it expensive.ĭepending on the animal hide used for the leather as well as the brain tanning method used, brain tanned leather has a lot of variation. Commercial brain tanning may not use the same process as the traditional method used by hunters because of the labor and complexity involved.īeing of high quality and relatively rare, it may be more expensive than chrome or vegetable tanned leather. It is used for traditional leather and fur products since in some cases the hair is not removed from the animal hide. It is comfortable, durable and breathable. It remains pliable even after it gets wet. The leather produced from brain tanning is exceptionally soft and supple.
Compared to chrome tanning and vegetable tanning, this method is cheaper and requires fewer resources. Animals that have enough oils and tannins in their brains for this purpose include deer, cows, raccoons and beavers. This method of brain tanning was used by Native Americans, who continue to tan hides with it today. Instead it is used by hunters to preserve the hides of fresh kills. Because of the specialized nature of brain tanning, it is not carried out on a large commercial scale. The brains of these animals have enough of the right acids and chemicals to tan their hides. This kind of leather comes from wild game such as deer. Image from Two Eagles Kitchen How is Brain Tanned Leather Made
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